Motor-vehicle.



Patented June I0, |902.

.1. n. M-xwE-LL.

MOTOR VEHICLE. (Applicaion med Feb. 14, i902.)

2 sheets-sheet' L (No Model.)

iN VEA/TUR.

' No; 7o|,9o9. Patented :une lo, |902.'v

.1; n. MAxwEL-L. MOTOR VEHICLE.

2 Sheets-Shet 2..

WITNESS/2s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN D. MAXWELL, or* DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Moron-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 701,909, dated June 10, 1902. l i Application tiled February 14, 19 02. Serial Fo. 94,010.v (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern,.- y

Be it known th at LJoNATHAN DMAXWELL,

a citizenl of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county'of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefull-m provements in-M'otor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more specifically to improvements in the'running-gear of motorvehicles of the type of the automobile driven by gasolene or other gas, vapor, or steam engine and in. which the bodyland'motor are supported upon springs.

Myinvention is designed with the general object in View to make-an efficient runninggear composed of fewand simple parts specifically adapted for the commercial manufacture on a large scale, while at the same timev an easy and comfortable riding vehicle of' pleasing appearance and moderate V,cost is produced.

To this end my invention embracesseveral spec'c features, one of 'which relates to the support `of the body, whereby the jar or vi-Q bration of the engine, which is so particularly noticeablein the use of the gasolene and va-` por engines, is prevented from lbeing transmitted tothe body. Another feature relates to the Vmountingof the motor, wherebyv its frame is madek a structural partof the run-e ning-gear and at the same time aordsgreatVA facility forthealinement.` g

The invention also has reference to a novelA construction of axle-clips for connecting the springs to the axles, alias more fully herein of the axle-clip shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in detached views. Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical longitudinal sections of the front and rear axleclips for fastening the side springs to the front and rearfaxle, respectively. Fig. 11 is a plan Fig. 12 is an end elevation of Fig. ,10i Fig. 13 is a 'perspective view of a view of Fig. 9.

part'of Fig. l0 detached. Fig.v .14 is a horizontal section of the part which pivotally connects the body with the side springs. Fig. 15 is a perspective view ofthe part shown in Fig. 14.-,

and Fig.. 16 is an elevation of the loop through which theA chain passes in the `bar J'.

A is the front axle,` B represents stubaxles pivotally 'secured to the front axle, C.

represents the steering-arms'connecting the stub-axles with the steering-gear, D` represents the front wheels, E is'the rear axle, in which the drive-shafts for the rear wheels are journaled, F represents the rear wheels, secured t'o the drive-shafts, and Gis the rearaxle casing, inclosing the usual compensating .gearfwhich transmits the motion from the motor-shaft through the sprocket-chain H to the rear drive-wheels, all arranged and operating in a well-known manner.

" lI I are two side springs, the ends of which are rigidlyA secured to the front and rear axles,respectively,to form a connecting-reach. `.Theseside springs may be of the semi-elliptic kind in common use, or, as will be more desirable, they are made with a'level body portion which iscomparatively rigid and with inclinedfront and rear portions, the vlatter being shorter and more inclined than the-front portions, as they will have to bear the greater load.2 V

J J are two bars, tubes,-or rods transversely connecting the side springs at or near the ends offtheir level body portions', and theends of these rods are suitably secured to the springs vinany manner that Willpermit of their independent adjustment. bearing-plates K, resting on top of the springs and secured thereto by U-shaped clamping-- To thisend I provide,

IOC

which the rods .I J pass and upon which the frame of the motor is clamped, all in such manner that the motor is thereby supported in a horizontal position in the longitudinal line of the vehicle.

The crank-shaft R of the motor extends laterally toward one of the side springs and is supported thereupon by an end bearing g. It carries the usual balance-wheel R and the drive-pinion S, which transmits the motion through a chain II to the rear wheels. This chain passes through a guard loop or eye h, formed in the bar J', as more particularly shown in Fig. 16.

The body L is pivotally supported upon each of the side springs by means of pivotal side bearings, particularly shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and consisting of two plates il fi', the former being bolted to the top of the side spring and the latter to the under side of the body-frame, so that the body rests upon it. The plate t" carries the pivot-pin 2, which projects outwardly and engages into a socket formed on the plate z'. This socket has a bushing i3 of rubber or other like material, causing friction which surrounds the pivotpin and is compressed around it by a screw @"4 and washer all in such manner as to increase the friction of the pivot. The plate t' on the side which supports the engine-shaft is formed with a forwardly-extending bracketi5, in which the bearing g for the engine-shaft is formed.

The front end of the body is supported upon a double elliptical spring M, which carries the steering-post j, to which the steeringhandlej is pivotally secured.

The bodyL is supported upon the spring M through the medium of a guide-bearingjz, secured at the lower front edge of the body and restingupon a shoulderj3 of the steeringpost. The lower portion of the spring M is connected to the front axle in the axis of the steering-post in the following manner: A block 7c, sleeved upon the front axle, is held in place thereon against lateral displacement by two split clamping-collars 7a', united by a cross-bar Zas. The block 7c is formed with a flat bearing on top, upon which the spring M is supported by means of two clamping-plates 7a2 k3, (see Figs. 5 and 7,) the lower one of which is formed with a pivot-pin Zt", which turns loosely in a hole 71:5 in the block 7c and bears a nut at its lower end, while the upper plate 7a2 is formed with a rearwardly-projecting arm k6, to which the connecting-rods 707 of the steering mechanism are pivotally secured.

The ends of the side springs are secured to the front axle by clips N, (shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 11,) in which Z is a split clampingcollar formed on top with a bearing-plate Z' for the spring to rest on, and Z2 is a clamping cap-piece extending over the extreme end of the spring and provided with a depending rear flange Z3, forming a stop for the end of the spring. The cap, spring, and bearingplate are provided with coincident holes, through which a clamping-bolt Z4 passes to connect the parts together. The clampingpiece is also formed with two side bars Z5 and a cross-bar Z", uniting the side bars in such manner that the side bars bear upon the top of the axle, and thereby press the cross-bar against the under side of the bearing-plate. The rear ends of the side springs are secured to .the rear axle by similar clips N', except that instead of the bolt Z4 the cap-piece is se cured by a U -shaped bolt Z7, which passes beneath the bearing-plate Z', and with the addition of a set-screw Z8, which passes through the cross-bar ZG and bears against the huh of the clam ping-collar. In this machine the rear clips permit adjustment of the rear axle for the purpose of tightening the drive-chain.r

The parts being constructed and arranged as shown and described, they are intended to accomplish the following results:

First. In supporting the motor in the manner described it will be seen that perfect facility is afforded for its accurate ali'nement. The cross bars .I J', being independently clamped to the side bars, can be adjusted jointly or independently forward or backward and at the same time the motor-frame can be laterally adjusted upon the bars in any way that may be necessary to a perfect adjustment. In making the motor-frame a direct structural part of the running-gear I obtain sufficient rigidity without adding the weight of a separate frame and at the same time avoid the disadvantage of an absolutely rigid supporting frame, which on uneven ground would not allow the weight to be brought on all four wheels.

Second. Itis well known that all reciprocating engines, especiallygas and vapor engines, if supported upon springs produce a teetering motion which if the engine is supported upon the side springs causes an alternate deflection in the spring-arms-that is to say, as one end goes up the other goes down. There is therefore a central point in each spring which does not partake of this motion, and at this point, which is located between the points at which the cross-bars .I J are connected, I support the body upon each side spring, providing for the necessary balance to maintain the body by supporting it additionally upon the front axle, which is not affected by the engine motion. In this manner the body is not only supported upon the side springs entirely independent of the motor and its supports, but also free from the jar and vibrations caused by the movement of the engine, which makes the vehicle easy and pleasant to ride without the use of separate springs intended to counteract the engine motion. By the use of the friction-bushings in the side bearings the wear upon the pivots is reduced and the rocking motion of the body is checked.

Third. The clips N clamp the springs l only at their extreme outer ends. The whole IOO IIO

length of the springs are therefore rendered effective. At the same time they have a bearing upon the Whole bearing-plate Z by reason of the cappieces, Which by giving them a bearing upon the axle press the cross-bar Z6 of the cap-piece against the under side of the bearing-plate Z by the clamping force of the bolt against the other end, thus virtually inaking it the equal of another bolt. The clip N permits the usual adjustment of the rear axle for tightening the chain, and it Will be noticed that in addition to the other advantages which the clip N has it has the set-screw ZS on theV inside under the spring, where it is less liable to tear the clothing or be broken on'.

Fourth. The connection betvveen the spring Maud the front axle is made through `the block 7c, which is sleeved upon the front axle.

Thus if the ,front axle is v.slightly turned, as

it will be by the motion of the side springs, it

` will have no effect upon the steering-rod,

which if .the block were fast upon theaxle would cause it to bind. .At the same time the spring M still bears upon the top of the axle and lhas no tendency toturn the block and cause a binding of the pivot-pin 104. By this construction the steering-gear is free from allstrain and not subject to undue Wear, and at the same time'the frontend of the body is freelyl supported upon the springM, and any undue vibration upon vthe body .through thisspring is counteractedv by inrigidly connected, of transverse rodssup ported upon said side springs at corresponding points intermediatetheir length and having their ends secured thereto independently of'each other, the motor supported upon said transverse rods independently of the side springs and thebody supported upon thesidesprings independently of the motor.

. 2. Ina motor-vehicle running-gear, the coml bination With side springs of semi-elliptic or like shape and supported `at their ends upon front and rear axles to which said ends are rigidly connected, of transverse rods sup-y ported upon said side springs `at correspond-- ing points intermediate their length and having their ends adjustably connected to said springs independently of each other, a motor supported upon said transverse rods intermediate between the side springs and forming with itsframe a rigid connecting member between the transverse rods and a vehicle-body-l pivotally supported upon the side springs at points. intermediate between 4the points at which the transverse rods are supported.

3. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the com-y bination'with side springs the ends of which are securedv to the front and rear axles and upon which the lmotor and the bodyare supported, of a motor having its frame near the each other, thev motor-frame being laterally' `ad] ustably secured upon the transverse rods. 4. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the conn-l bination With side springs the ends of which .oppositeends formed with bearings at rightk are secured to the front and rear axlesand` Aupon which the motor and the body aresupported, of a motor having'its frame'formed at or near the ends with clamping-bearings,J of transverse rods passing through said bearings and adjustably supporting themotor" upon said'rods,-and plates secured-.tollthe .l

ends of the transverse rods said plates .se-l cured upon the side springs by clamping-bolts.'

and forming means for the longitudinal 'ad-'i `justment of the motor.

5. In a motor-vehiclerunning-gear, thecombination with side springs the endsof Which are secured to the front andA rearaxles and curedto .the side ksprings independently of -uponrwhich the motorand the body are supported,-of a motor havingjits frame formed?` il vwith bearingsat right angles thereto, trans- `verse rods passing through said bearings and havingV their ends supported upon fandvse-n each other, and a-body'havinglside bearings I supporting the `body upon theiside springs' independently of the motor at a point inter- Ymediate between thefends of the transverse rods.

6. In akmotor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with side springs secured at their j ends to the front and rear axles. and carrying the motor` and the body, .of transverse` rods lrigidly connecting the side springs' together at points intermediatetheiriends andi-forming the supports of the motor,'th'e.fra1ne of -the motor being provided near its opposite' ends with bearings through which thetransf rib lverse rodsrpass,anda bodyprovided'with* side bearings .pivotallysupporting-thebodyupon the springs intermediate between4 the` points at which the motor is'supported upon' said springs.`

l i f 11'5- 7. Inamotor-vehiclerunning-geanthecomi bination With side springs secured attheir ends to the front and rearaxlesand -up'on -Whichthe body and the motor are supported,

of a motor having its frame-provided .with'rzo bearings 'at right-angles to the frame, transyverse rods passing through :said bearings and?.

supporting the motor uponssthe side springsu' the ends of said rods being rigidly secured to the side springs independently of each-other and a vehicle-bodypivotally'oonne'cted to tlie side .springs at apoint between-"the points lWhere the transverse rods are connected.v

v8. In a motor-vehicle running-gear,the-conr-r4 bination With1side springs securedfattheirends tothe front and rear axlesa'nd carrying the niotorand thebody, cfa motor supported upon transverse rods secured -inbearings in;

the frame of the motor and having their ends rigidly connected to the side springs, a vehicle-body provided with side bearings pivotally supporting the body upon the side springs independently of the motor, between the points at which the transverse rods are secured to said springs, an elliptic spring interposed between the front end of the body and the front axle, and means for creating friction upon the points of the side bearings of the body.

9. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination with the side springs and the axles to which the ends of the side springs are secured, of clips each comprised of a split collar securing the clip to the axle and formed with abearing-plate extending crosswise over the axle and upon which the attened end of a side spring is supported, a cap-piece having an outer end which bears upon the outer end of the spring, and an inner end formed of two side bars which bear upon the top of the axle and a cross-bar uniting the outer ends of the side bars and bearing against the under side of the inner end ot' the bearing-plate and a bolt which clamps the outer ends of the cappiece and of the bearing-plate together.

10. In a Vehicle running-gear, the combination with the side springs and the rear axles to which the ends of the springs are secured, of clips, each composed of a split collar secured upon the axle and formed with a bearingplate extending crosswise over the axle and upon which the ilattened end of the side spring is supported, a cap-piece having an outer end which bears upon the outer end of the side spring and confines it against end- Wise movement and an inner end formed of two side bars extending inwardly over the axle and bearing upon the top of the same and a cross-bar uniting the ends of the side bars and bearing against the under side of the inner end of the bearing-plate, a bolt adjustably clamping the outer end of the cappiece to the outer end of the bearing-plate and a set-screw carried by the cross-bar of the cap-piece and adapted to adjust said cappiece longitudinally upon the bearing-plate.

11. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination with the side springs supporting the body and` motor, of the front axle rigidly secured tothe ends of the side springs and having pivoted stub-axles provided with crank-arms, the block k centrally sleeved upon the front axle and held in place thereon against longitudinal displacement, the springM interposed between the front axle and the forward end of the body and having the upper and lower side thereof pivotally supported in vertical bearings in the front end of the body and in the bearing-block 7c respectively, and the arrn la carried by the spring and connected with the crank-arms of the stub-axles.

12. In avehicle runni 11g-gear, the combination with the side springs supporting the body and motor upon the axles and having their ends rigidly secured thereto, of the body having side bearings pivotally supporting the body upon the side springs, theelliptic spring M interposed between the front axle and the forward end of the body free to turn upon its vertical axis and the block 7c sleeved upon the front axle and to which the spring is pivotally connected in the Vertical axis of the spring substantially as described.

13. In a Vehicle running-gear, the combination with the side springs having their ends rigidly connected to front and rear axles, the front axle carrying steering-Wheels pivotally connected to the ends of the axle, of a vehicle-body pivotally supported upon the side springs, an elliptic spring interposed between the front axle and the front end of the vehicle free to turn upon its vertical axis, asteering-post mounted upon the top of the spring a pivot-pin secured to the under side of the spring in the axis of the steering-post a block sleeved upon the front axle and provided with a vertical bearing for the pivot-pin, in which said pivot-pin is secured free to turn and steering connection between the lower end of the spring and the front Wheels.

14. In a vehicle running-gear, the combina tion, with the vehicle-body supported upon side springs and the front axle to which the ends of the side springs are rigidly secured and carrying steering-wheels pivotally connected to the front axle, of the elliptic spring M interposed between the front axle and the front end of the vehicle-body, the steeringpost] secured upon the top of the spring M, the bearingj2 secured to the body of the vehicle and through which the steering-post passes, the clamping-plates k2 7c3 secured to lower part of the spring M, the steering-arm 706 carried by the clamping-plate k2 and connected with the steering-wheels, the pivotpin 7a4 carried by the plate 7c3 and provided with a nut upon its lower end, the block 7c sleeved upon the front axle and provided with a bearing h5 through which the pivot-pin passes andthe split collars 7.3' united by a crossbar ks and securing the block 7a against endwise movement upon the front axle.

15. In a vehicle running-gear, in combination with side springs and cross-bars connected therewith intermediate between the ends and supporting the motor, of a vehiclebody pivotally supported on side bearings upon said springs at corresponding pointsintermediate between the cross-bars, each side bearing consisting of two plates, one secured upon the side spring and the other support ing the body, the two plates pivotally connected side by side upon the same horizontal plane by a pivot-pin secured in one of the plates and journaled in a bearing formed in the other plate at right angles to the side spring, the body-supporting plate beingsupported outside of the side spring free to oscillate upon the pivot.

16. In a vehicle running-gear, in combination with side springs supported upon the front and rear axles and having raised body portions, of a vehicle-body pivotally sup- IOO IIO

ported intermediate its ends upon the raised body portions of the side springs free to oscillate in a vertical longitudinalplane and an elliptic spring interposed between the front axle and the forward end of the body in the longitudinal center of the body, the top of said sprin g being substantiallyon alevel with the top of the raised body portion of the side springs and pivotally connected with the'yehicle-body in the Vertical axis of the springl free toturn the spring upon said axis, the

t under side of said spring pivotally connected to a bearing-block sleeved upon the front axle whereby said `bearing-'blockpivotally supports the spring on the front axle free to turn said spring upon its vertical axis independent of the rocking motion of said front axle caused by the action of the side springs.

17. In a vehicle running-gear, in combination with side springs secured to the front and rear axles and formed with raised horizontal main portions of tubular cross-bars securing the side springs together at `the ends of the raised main portions, bearingplates supported upon the raised main portions of the side springs and provided with sockets into which the ends of the crossfbars are secured, said bearing-plates independently adjustably motor, of a block centrally sleeved upon'the front axle, split clamping-collars secured upon saidffront axle on opposite sides of the block and an elliptic spring interposed between the front axle and the front endof the body free tolturn upon its Vertical axis,v the lower end ofy said spring secured between, clampingplates one of which carries a steering-arm and the other a pivot-pin piyotally supporting the spring uponthe block.` v

In testimony whereof I'aflix rny'signature` in presence of two witnesses. Y n

JONATHAN D. MAXWELL.

Witnesses: n

L. E. FLANDERS, O'r'ro F. BARTHEL. 

